Psychometric Properties of the German Version of the Dual Facet Imagination Scale (DFIS)

Abstract: Imagination is the tendency to mentally simulate alternative experiences, generate novel ideas, and engage with abstract or hypothetical content. This study examined the psychometric properties of the German version of the Dual Facet Imagination Scale (DFIS; Sassenberg et al., 2023 ) in a nonclinical adult sample ( N = 228). The DFIS conceptualizes imagination as two facets: Experiential Simulation (ES) and Conceptual Innovation (CI). Confirmatory factor analyses supported the hypothesized two-factor structure, with a bifactor-(S·I – 1) model additionally indicating shared and unique variance across facets. With ω ES = .91 and ω CI = .90, internal consistency was high. Construct validity was supported through expected trait correlations: ES was more strongly associated with BFAS Openness than with Intellect, whereas CI showed stronger associations with BFAS Intellect and BFI-2 Intellectual Curiosity. These findings provide evidence for the structural and construct validity of the German DFIS and support its use in research contexts.